Fraction calculator
This fraction calculator performs all fraction operations - addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and evaluates expressions with fractions. It also shows detailed step-by-step information.
The result:
1.5 - 1 1/5 = 3/10 = 0.3
The result spelled out in words is three tenths.How do we solve fractions step by step?
- Conversion a decimal number to a fraction: 1.5 = 15/10 = 3/2
a) Write down the decimal 1.5 divided by 1: 1.5 = 1.5/1
b) Multiply both top and bottom by 10 for every number after the decimal point. (For example, if there are two numbers after the decimal point, then use 100, if there are three then use 1000, etc.)
1.5/1 = 15/10
Note: 15/10 is called a decimal fraction.
c) Simplify and reduce the fraction
15/10 = 3 * 5/2 * 5 = 3* 5/2* 5= 3/2 - Conversion a mixed number 1 1/5 to a improper fraction: 1 1/5 = 1 1/5 = 1 · 5 + 1/5 = 5 + 1/5 = 6/5
To find a new numerator:
a) Multiply the whole number 1 by the denominator 5. Whole number 1 equally 1 * 5/5 = 5/5
b) Add the answer from the previous step 5 to the numerator 1. New numerator is 5 + 1 = 6
c) Write a previous answer (new numerator 6) over the denominator 5.
One and one fifth is six fifths. - Subtract: 1.5 - 6/5 = 3/2 - 6/5 = 3 · 5/2 · 5 - 6 · 2/5 · 2 = 15/10 - 12/10 = 15 - 12/10 = 3/10
It is suitable to adjust both fractions to a common (equal) denominator for subtracting fractions. The common denominator you can calculate as the least common multiple of both denominators - LCM(2, 5) = 10. It is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 2 × 5 = 10. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.
In other words, three halves minus six fifths equals three tenths.
Rules for expressions with fractions:
Fractions - write a forward slash to separate the numerator and the denominator, i.e., for five-hundredths, enter 5/100. If you use mixed numbers, leave a space between the whole and fraction parts.Mixed numerals (mixed numbers or fractions) - keep one space between the whole part and fraction and use a forward slash to input fraction i.e., 1 2/3 . A negative mixed fraction write for example as -5 1/2.
A slash is both a sign for fraction line and division, use a colon (:) for division fractions i.e., 1/2 : 1/3.
Decimals (decimal numbers) enter with a decimal dot . and they are automatically converted to fractions - i.e. 1.45.
Math Symbols
Symbol | Symbol name | Symbol Meaning | Example |
---|---|---|---|
+ | plus sign | addition | 1/2 + 1/3 |
- | minus sign | subtraction | 1 1/2 - 2/3 |
* | asterisk | multiplication | 2/3 * 3/4 |
× | times sign | multiplication | 2/3 × 5/6 |
: | division sign | division | 1/2 : 3 |
/ | division slash | division | 1/3 / 5 |
: | colon | complex fraction | 1/2 : 1/3 |
^ | caret | exponentiation / power | 1/4^3 |
() | parentheses | calculate expression inside first | -3/5 - (-1/4) |
Examples:
• adding fractions: 2/4 + 3/4• subtracting fractions: 2/3 - 1/2
• multiplying fractions: 7/8 * 3/9
• dividing Fractions: 1/2 : 3/4
• reciprocal of a fraction: 1 : 3/4
• square of a fraction: 2/3 ^ 2
• cube of a fraction: 2/3 ^ 3
• exponentiation of a fraction: 1/2 ^ 4
• fractional exponents: 16 ^ 1/2
• adding fractions and mixed numbers: 8/5 + 6 2/7
• dividing integer and fraction: 5 ÷ 1/2
• complex fractions: 5/8 : 2 2/3
• decimal to fraction: 0.625
• Fraction to Decimal: 1/4
• Fraction to Percent: 1/8 %
• comparing fractions: 1/4 2/3
• square root of a fraction: sqrt(1/16)
• expression with brackets: 1/3 * (1/2 - 3 3/8)
• compound fraction: 3/4 of 5/7
• fractions multiple: 2/3 of 3/5
• divide to find the quotient: 3/5÷2/3
The calculator follows well-known rules for the order of operations. The most common mnemonics for remembering this order are:
- PEMDAS: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction.
- BEDMAS: Brackets, Exponents, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction.
- BODMAS: Brackets, Order (or "Of"), Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction.
- GEMDAS: Grouping symbols (brackets: (){}), Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction.
- MDAS: Multiplication and Division (same precedence), Addition and Subtraction (same precedence). MDAS is a subset of PEMDAS.
1. Multiplication/Division vs. Addition/Subtraction: Always perform multiplication and division *before* addition and subtraction.
2. Left-to-Right Rule: Operators with the same precedence (e.g., + and -, or * and /) must be evaluated from left to right.
Fractions in word problems:
- A chocolate 2
A chocolate cake is cut into twelve equal pieces. Mr. Greedy eats five pieces at break time with his mug of tea. What fraction of the cake is left?
- A cake
A cake has 46 slices. Harry ate 16 slices, and Jack ate 26 slices, Dave ate 0 & Mary ate 1 slice. What fraction of the cake is remaining?
- You have 2
You have 6/13 of a pie. If you share 9/10, how much will you have left?
- Orchard 5421
The orchard has 600 apple trees. On the first day, they cut 1/5 and 2/8 of the total number of trees on the second day. How many more trees do they have to harvest?
- Slab of a chocolate
Albany has 3/4 of a slab of chocolate he gives 2/5 of the slab to her friend Peter. How much chocolate does she have left?
- Pizza 16
Kevin ate 5/12 of his pizza. Which is a better estimate for the amount of pizza that he ate: A. about half of the pizza or B. almost all of the pizza?
- Mario 4
Mario renames the mixed numbers to fractions greater than 1 to find 4 and 1/2 - 2 and 2/3. Which fractions should Mario use to find the difference? Group of answer choices
more math problems »
Last Modified: June 23, 2025